Panty-hose

ABSTRACT

A panty-hose garment with the panty portion formed of textured polypropylene yarns and the stocking portion formed of nylon yarns. The heels and toes of the stocking portions can be formed with textured polypropylene yarns. The polypropylene yarns can be solution dyed a different color from the remainder of the garment.

United States Patent Blore 1 1151 3,701,164 1451 Oct. 31, 1972 [52] US. Cl. .L ..2/224 R [51] Int. Cl. ..A4lb 9/04 [58] Field of Search ..2I224 R, 227, 240, 224 A, 239;

[56] 11mm c1166 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,162,820 12/1915 Taylor ..2/239 3,217,33 11/1965 Wikler ..2/239 3,237,625 3/1966 161mm ..2/224AX 2,826,760 3/1958 Rice ..2/224 Beghelli ..66/l78 R X 3,128,475 4/1964 Rice et a1 ..2/224 3,287,739 11/ 1966 Kaplan ..2/224 3,305,911 2/1967 Chapman et'al ..66/202 X 3,344,621 10/1967 Gilchrist ..2/224 3,375,684 4/1968 Page ..66/202 X 3,449,932 6/1969 Fillmore et a1 ..2/224 X Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter Attorney-Young and Quigg 15.11 ABsTitAc'r A panty-hose garment with the panty portion formed of textured polypropylene yarns and the stocking por- 1 tion formed of nylon yarns. The heels and toes of the stocking portions can be formed with textured polypropylene yarns. Thepolypropylene yarns can be solution dyed a different color ,from the remainder of the garment.

9 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure P'ATENTEDH'BI m 3.101. 164

INVENTOR.

J H BLOR E BY away;

ATTORNfYS 1 PANTY-HOSE 2 This permits the nylon and polypropylene ,yarns to be dyed the same color or different colors as the solution dyed polypropylene yarns are not affected by the process employed to dye the nylon yarns in the ing panty-hose garments. Nylon yarns have been utiiized extensively in stockings and in panty-hose garments. However, nylon yarn has a relatively high discomfort factor, particularly where there is a significant moisture level due to perspiration. Polypropylene yarn has been suggested for use in stockings, but the elastic recovery thereof is generally not as good as that of nylon.

In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that a panty-hose garment can be provided with the elastic recovery characteristics desired for the leg portions and with an improved comfort for the panty portion and the foot portions by knitting the leg portions with nylon yarns and the panty and foot portions with textured polypropylene yarn.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved panty-hose garment. It is an object of theinvention to increase the comfort factor for panty-hose while maintaining the desired high elastic recovery of the leg portions. Another object of the invention is to provide an attractive two-color panty-hose garment.

' Other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a study of the specification, the drawings and the appended claims to the invention.

The drawing is a perspective view from the left-rear quarter of a unitary panty-hose garment fabricated in accordance with the present invention.

The panty-hose garment comprises two seamless knit stocking portions 11 and 12 and a panty portion 13. The panty portion 13 is provided with an elastic waistband 14 extending around the upper periphery thereof. The stocking portions 11 and 12 are provided with toes l and 16, respectively, and heels l7 and 18, respectively.

At least a major percentage of the yarns utilized in panty portion 13 are textured polypropylene yarns, and at least a major percentage of the yarns employed in the stocking portions 11 and 12 are nylon yarns. In one presently preferred embodiment all of the yarns of panty portion 13, exclusive of any elastic yarns in band 14, are crystalline polypropylene yarns, and all of the yarns of the stocking portions 11 and 12 are nylon yarns. In another embodiment all of the yarns in panty portion 13, exclusive of any elastic yarns in band 14, and the heels 17 and 18 and toes and 16 are crystalline polypropylene yarns, and the remaining yarns in the stocking portions 11 and 12 are nylon yarns. It is also within the contemplation of the invention to form the entire foot portion of the stocking of polypropylene arns. y The nylon yarns can be monofilament yams, mul-v tifilament yarns, staple yarns, or composite yarns of staple and continuous filaments, and can be either bulked yarns, stretch yarns, or modified stretch yarns. The polypropylene yarns can be textured by any suitable method, for example by false-twisting method, by the twist-heat set-untwist method, or by the downtwisting method. The polypropylene yarns can be solution dyed (extrusion of pigmented polypropylene fibers) while the nylon yarns can be dyed after the garment is finished garment. The utilization of two different colors can be advantageous from a fashion standpoint. The

panty portion can be solution dyed tomatch a dress color while the stocking portions are dyed a nude color, one'of the traditional beige colors, or a contrasting color to the dress color.

The stocking portions 11 and 12 can be fabricated seamless or full-fashioned, with regular knit patterns or the various mesh or net patterns, in either sheer or opaque. The panty portion 13 can be formed with a single thickness or multiple plies. The panty portion 13 and the stocking portions 11 and 12 can be formed separately and then joined to form a unitary garment, or the garment can be formed by joining two stocking blanks, the panty or upper portion of the blanks having been knitted with textured polypropylene yarns. A crotch insert can be utilized with the stocking blanks, according to known techniques of panty-hose construction. However, in accordance with the present invention the crotch insert is knitted of textured polypropylene yarns.

The textured polypropylene yarns provide a higher comfort factor for the panty and foot portions of the panty hose due to the characteristics of softer and more pleasant hand, lighter weight for same degree of cover, wickability, and lower static electricity charges. The reduced static electricity of the textured polypropylene yarns minimizes, if not avoids, the creeping of outerwear garments, such as polyester double-knit fabrics. The wickability of the textured polypropylene yarns draws body moisture away from the skin and outwardly through the fabric. In addition, the textured polypropylene yarns are more resistant to stains and chemicals, and are .more readily washed than corresponding nylon yarns.

While it is presently preferred that the panty portion 13 be formed entirely of textured polypropylene yarns, other yarns of natural and/or synthetic fibers can be employed in a minor amount, generally less than 25 percent by weight, to obtain advantages of the additional fibers while still substantially achieving the advantages of the polypropylene yarns. Similarly, it is presently preferred that the leg portions 11 and 12 be formed entirely of nylon yarns, but other yarns of natural and/or synthetic fibers can be employed in a minor amount, generally less than 25 percent by weight.

Other reasonable variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims to the invention.

I claim: 1. A unitary knitted panty-hose garment comprising a panty portion formed of yarns, at least percent of which are composed of textured polypropylene to provide the desired high comfort factor for the panty porcomposed of a filament forming nylon to provide the desired high elastic recovery of the stocking portions.

2. A garment in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stocking portions are knitted of nylon stretch yarns.

3. A garment in accordance with claim 1 wherein the toe and heel of each of said stocking portionsare formed of textured polypropylene yarns.

4. A garment in accordance with claim 3 wherein said panty portion and each said heel and toe are solution dyed a first color, and the remainder of said two stocking portions is dyed a second color different from said first color.

5. A garment in accordance with claim 1 wherein substantially all of the yarns in each of said stocking portions are nylon yarns and wherein substantially all of the yams in said panty portion aretextured polypropylene yarns.

6. A garment in accordance with claim 5 further comprising an elastic band formed'in the'topedge of vsaid panty portion.

7. A garment in accordance with claim 6 wherein 

2. A garment in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stocking portions are knitted of nylon stretch yarns.
 3. A garment in accordance with claim 1 wherein the toe and heel of each of said stocking portions are formed of textured polyprOpylene yarns.
 4. A garment in accordance with claim 3 wherein said panty portion and each said heel and toe are solution dyed a first color, and the remainder of said two stocking portions is dyed a second color different from said first color.
 5. A garment in accordance with claim 1 wherein substantially all of the yarns in each of said stocking portions are nylon yarns and wherein substantially all of the yarns in said panty portion are textured polypropylene yarns.
 6. A garment in accordance with claim 5 further comprising an elastic band formed in the top edge of said panty portion.
 7. A garment in accordance with claim 6 wherein said stocking portions are knitted of nylon stretch yarns.
 8. A garment in accordance with claim 7 wherein the toe and heel of each of said stocking portions are formed of textured polypropylene yarns.
 9. A garment in accordance with claim 8 wherein said panty portion and each said heel and toe are solution dyed a first color, and the remainder of said two stocking portions is dyed a second color different from said first color. 